Youth football team chemistry lead Ripon into section title game
Ripon senior running back and linebacker Brandon Rainer stood next to some of his best friends at the 10th annual CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship breakfast on Monday in Lodi.
“We always thought we could win a section title,” he said.
The chemistry has always been there with the Indians as Rainer estimated 60% of the Indians’ roster played together on the Ripon Chiefs youth football team, a group that won two Super Bowl titles.
No. 2 Ripon (11-1) plays No. 1 Center (12-0) in the Division V championship on Saturday at noon at Sacramento City College. It’s the Indians’ first appearance since 1996, also the last year they won a title.
They beat Mariposa, 31-14, in the Division IV championship.
The number of Chiefs alums on the Indians team was higher last year but senior lineman Jeremiah Willey said six players, including a couple of lineman, transferred.
Indians senior running back Danny Hernandez, a Chief alum who has 1,716 total yards and 17 touchdowns, is dealing with an ankle injury but said he while he is sore, he’s good to go for the championship.
That championship appearance seemed all but over when the Indians trailed Amador, 27-3, in the second quarter last Friday but they rallied to win, 34-33. Senior Troy Brogan said he didn’t sleep much that night while others said they watched various highlight clips.
Center has given up 25 points in its last six games and the Cougars have been the Bee’s No. 1 ranked small-school team for part of the season. The other team ranked No. 1 was Escalon, which Ripon beat 42-21 on Oct. 18.
“This group ... we always knew we could be successful and do something special,” Brogan said.
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2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Championship
No. 2 Ripon (11-1) at No. 1 Center (12-0)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30. 2019
Time: Noon
Location: Sacramento City College
